Redrafting the NFL’s 2017 class: Which player could the Eagles have landed instead of Derek Barnett?

Five years ago, Philadelphia was at the forefront of two major NFL events.

The first came in April 2017, when the league held the draft near the Art Museum along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. About 10 months later, the Eagles hosted two playoff games en route to the first Super Bowl victory in franchise history.

To commemorate the five-year anniversary of the city’s draft weekend, Eagles beat reporters EJ Smith and Josh Tolentino did a redraft for the first round. All the picks were made considering how each player has fared on and off the field in the last five seasons.

Here’s the alternate reality:

Player they took: Myles Garrett, edge rusher, Texas A&M

Player they’d take: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech

This was a no-brainer. Mahomes has quickly proved himself as a generational talent. Even after his flurry of turnovers in 2021, Mahomes has thrown 151 touchdowns compared to 37 interceptions. His resumé includes back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, including a win over the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV.

Player they took: Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina

Player they’d take: Myles Garrett

Instead of reaching for a quarterback, as they did in reality, the Bears move up a spot to take the most talented player in the draft. Deshaun Watson would have been the selection at one point, but legal troubles and character concerns are enough to justify passing here.

Player they took: Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford

Player they’d take: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson

A grand jury declined to indict Watson on criminal charges, and he has settled 20 of the 24 civil lawsuits filed by massage therapists that alleged sexual harassment and sexual assault. Despite the lingering civil lawsuits, the Browns acquired Watson in a trade with the Texans, and they proceeded to sign him to a megadeal, including $230 million in guaranteed salary.

Player they took: Leonard Fournette, running back, LSU

Player they’d take: T.J. Watt, edge rusher, Wisconsin

Even though we went with Garrett ahead of him, you could make an argument that Watt is the best edge rusher from his class to this point. He’s been the most productive pass rusher, at the very least. Getting one of the most dominant defensive players in the NFL at No. 4 overall is a lot better than what the Jags actually got.

Player they took: Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan

Player they’d take: Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington

» READ MORE: Cooper Kupp turns a vision of success into reality and wins Super Bowl MVP as the Rams best the Bengals

Kupp’s FCS background surely hurt his draft stock as he fell to the third round. But Kupp has defied the odds, developing into one of the league’s most elite receivers. Last season, he became just the fourth player of the Super Bowl era to lead the league in catches (145), receiving yards (1,947), and receiving touchdowns (16) en route to being named NFL offensive player of the year.

Player they took: Jamal Adams, S, LSU

Player they’d take: Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU

With the benefit of hindsight, the Jets put more stock into positional value here and secure a lockdown cornerback. Christian McCaffrey or Adams would also be good options, but White plays the more premium position and wins out.

Player they took: Mike Williams, WR, Clemson

Player they’d take: Mike Williams

As the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni had a firsthand look at Williams as his position coach during Williams’ rookie season. Despite overseeing him for just one season, Sirianni has used Williams, along with teammate Keenan Allen, as teaching points to his current wide receiver group. Williams, a big-bodied target at 6-foot-4 and 218 pounds, has exceeded 1,000 receiving yards twice, including a career-best 1,146 yards in 2021.

Player they took: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford

Player they’d take: Christian McCaffrey

It’s easy to look at the Panthers’ current state and feel the urge to conjure up an alternate path for them here, but McCaffrey is essentially the only thing they really have going for them. Injuries have been a major hindrance for him, but McCaffrey is still one of the most dynamic playmakers in the NFL. If only Carolina was capable of building around him.

Player they took: John Ross, WR, Washington

Player they’d take: Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee

Sure, the Bengals already had Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard on the roster. But that RB duo combined for just six rushing touchdowns in 2017. Meanwhile, Kamara has scored 47 rushing touchdowns over his career with an average of 9.4 per season. Running backs have been devalued as first-round talents in today’s NFL, but Kamara has been a smash hit since entering the league.

Player they took: Patrick Mahomes (pick was traded to Kansas City)

Player they’d take: Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State

With Mahomes off the board, the Bills stand pat and get one of the best cornerbacks in the draft. They did quite well for themselves trading back and getting Tre’Davious White in 2017, but staying put and getting Lattimore isn’t a bad consolation in this scenario.

Player they took: Marshon Lattimore

Player they’d take: Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin

Ramczyk was the final pick of the first round at No. 32 by the Saints. Here, he is still drafted by his original team, but cashes in a much bigger — and deserving — payday. Ramczyk has starred at both tackle spots, although his best work has been done from the right side. Last season, he allowed just two sacks over 653 snaps. He hasn’t allowed more than two sacks in a season since 2018.

Player they took: Traded pick to Houston, which took Deshaun Watson

Player they’d take: Chris Godwin, WR, Penn State

Instead of trading this pick to the quarterback-needy Houston Texans, the Browns prioritize offensive playmakers to pair with Mahomes here. Godwin is arguably the second-best receiver from this draft class, although he has played alongside Mike Evans his entire career. He’s got 342 career catches for 4,643 yards and 29 touchdowns, all of which rank second in the class of receivers.

Player they took: Haason Reddick, edge rusher, Temple

Player they’d take: George Kittle, TE, Iowa

The Cardinals have experienced a firsthand look at Kittle’s dominance. A fifth-round pick, he has evolved into a bona fide Pro Bowler who demands the ball in the passing game.

Player they took: Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee

Player they’d take: Jamal Adams

The Eagles typically prioritize defensive linemen, but the early run of elite edge rushers leaves them with a “best-player-available” approach. Adams wouldn’t be an ideal fit in defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon’s scheme, but he would be tailor-made as a versatile box safety in former DC Jim Schwartz’s system. He has evolved into more of a hybrid linebacker at this point in his career, but Adams is still the type of difference-maker who commands accounting for from opposing offenses.

Yes, Barnett played his part in the Eagles’ Super Bowl run in 2017. His strip-sack against the Vikings was the catalyst for an eventual Eagles blowout and his clutch fumble recovery against the Patriots helped secure the team’s Super Bowl victory. All that aside, the Eagles likely still would have fielded a more formidable defense with an All-Pro-caliber safety to pair with Malcolm Jenkins. Barnett’s contributions could likely be found from a different replacement-level starter.

Player they took: Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State

Player they’d take: Budda Baker, S, Washington

Hooker has shown flashes as an elite safety with range, but he has missed 30 games over five seasons. Meanwhile, Baker, a second-round pick by the Cardinals, has developed into one of the NFL’s most electric corners. Baker tackles with force — he has surpassed 100 stops three times, including a league-best 104 solo tackles in 2019 — and he has recorded five interceptions over the last two seasons.

Player they took: Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama

Player they’d take: Marlon Humphrey

This was easy. Taking Humphrey was excellent value in 2017. No reason to change it up here. He’s a durable, tough, consistent cornerback who fits what the Ravens do extremely well.

Player they took: Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama

Player they’d take: Haason Reddick

» READ MORE: The Eagles’ Haason Reddick changed his career path with the help of family and hometown ties

Had Reddick started out at edge from the jump, his career numbers might look quite different in a positive way. He’s not considered a “traditional” pass rusher at 6-1, but he’s a technician with a nonstop motor. His production over the last two seasons (23½ sacks, 34 quarterback hits and eight forced fumbles) is a better representation of Reddick’s ceiling when used effectively as a proper pass-rushing weapon. Pairing Reddick with Ryan Kerrigan (in his prime), along with Preston Smith would have been a scary sight for NFC East opponents.

Player they took: Adoree’ Jackson, CB, USC

Player they’d take: Jonathan Allen

The original pick of Jackson isn’t bad, but the Titans can do slightly better with hindsight. Allen hasn’t been an elite interior rusher, but he has been rock solid for Washington and is still good value here.

Player they took: O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama

Player they’d take: JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, USC

Considering that Chris Godwin catapulted from the third round to becoming a top-10 pick in this redraft, the Buccaneers still need to address receiver. Smith-Schuster and Godwin aren’t parallel, but Smith-Schuster eclipsed 1,400 receiving yards during his sophomore year in 2018.

Player they took: Garrett Bolles, OT, Utah

Player they’d take: Dion Dawkins, OT, Temple

The Broncos needed offensive-line help, but they do better here than they did in 2017. Instead of going with Bolles, who has been about league-average at left tackle, they get a slightly better blindside protector in Dawkins.

Player they took: Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida

Player they’d take: Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State

After further evaluation of Detroit’s 2017 offense, the Lions certainly could’ve benefited from bolstering the depth chart with talent. That year, the Lions won nine games but finished with an NFL-worst 76.3 rushing yards per game. Meanwhile, Cook has topped 1,100 rushing yards in each of the last three seasons.

Player they took: Charles Harris, LB, Missouri

Player they’d take: Trey Hendrickson, edge rusher, Florida Atlantic

Hendrickson’s upside is still somewhat debatable, but you can’t argue with his production. T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett are the only players from the 2017 class with more sacks than him (34), and he’s an ascending player. Hendrickson, a third-round pick by the Saints, is a productive, high-motor edge rusher who is well worth it at this point in the draft.

Player they took: Evan Engram, TE, Mississippi

Player they’d take: Austin Ekeler, RB, Western Colorado

This certainly feels like a high number for running backs taken, but why not in a redraft, especially when considering how productive these players have been in recent years? Last year alone, Ekeler eclipsed 1,550 total yards with 20 touchdowns (12 rushing, eight receiving). He’s a do-it-all tailback who serves as a magnet to the end zone.

Player they took: Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State

Player they’d take: Marcus Williams, S, Utah

The Raiders have needed secondary help dating back several years, and Williams would go a long way in helping them in that department. He has 15 career interceptions and recently signed a five-year, $70 million contract with the Ravens.

Player they took: Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan

Player they’d take: Eddie Jackson, S, Alabama

Jackson was a Day 3 pick by the Bears, but he proved to be a first-round talent. Here, the Browns still address safety and nab Jackson, who earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2018.

Player they took: Traded pick to Atlanta, which took Takkarist McKinley, DE, UCLA

Player they’d take: Shaquill Griffin, CB, Central Florida

The Seahawks got Griffin in the third round, but he’s good enough to command a first-rounder in this redraft.

Player they took: Tre’Davious White

Player they’d take: Kenny Golladay, WR, Northern Illinois

Golladay’s image was crushed last season following a horrific first year with the Giants on a big-money contract. Time will tell if he’s able to restore his career, but Golladay was once a highly feared, big-bodied passing target. His best seasons were 2018 and ‘19, when he had 1,000-plus receiving yards and 65-plus receptions each year. He was a Pro Bowler in 2019, finishing with a career-best 11 touchdowns.

Player they took: Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan

Player they’d take: Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee

Many Eagles fans already have disdain for Barnett, so a marriage with the Birds’ biggest rival is fitting. While he has consistently struggled with penalties and has earned a reputation for playing with reckless abandon through the whistle, Barnett was still a starter-quality defensive end for the first five years of his career. That has first-round value.

» READ MORE: Eagles re-sign Derek Barnett to a two-year contract

Player they took: David Njoku, TE, Miami

Player they’d take: Aaron Jones, RB, Texas-El Paso

Jones catapults from Day 3 into the first round. A fifth-round pick, he signed an extension with the Green Bay Packers last offseason.

Player they took: T.J. Watt

Player they’d take: Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma

The Steelers ended up with James Conner in the third round, but Mixon would have given them a marginal improvement that’s worth the investment.

Player they took: Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama

Player they’d take: David Njoku

Njoku recently signed a four-year extension worth $56.75 million with the Browns. He’ll benefit from better quarterback play, but most of his career has consisted of flashes. Last season, he recorded 36 receptions for 475 yards and four touchdowns.

Player they took: Ryan Ramczyk

Player they’d take: Corey Davis

Davis didn’t prove worthy of a top-10 pick, but he’s still a productive receiver in the league. His 241 career receptions with the Jets and Titans rank eighth in his draft class, and he’s seventh in receiving yards. Good enough to be a first-rounder, even if it’s by the skin of his teeth.